that one shot

Today, after Truett went up for his nap, Jem followed me into the sunroom as I went in to change Caia. Earlier, the boys had dumped over a basket that is filled with their gloves, scarves and winter hats. Needless to say, things were scattered all over the room. As we walked in Jem looked around and said, "Mommy, this place is a mess." I agreed and said that someone would need to pick it up. And he said, "I'll do it." And then set about picking up every single mitten, every hat, every glove and putting them away. I am pretty sure that is the first time that my son has ever volunteered to clean up a mess. Sure, he asks to help me vacuum or wipe off the table but those are novelties. He sees that as "grown-up" stuff that he is eager to try. But simply picking up a mess and putting it away? That's normal, everyday stuff. I was blown away and thanked him profusely and told him what a great job he did.
I'm starting to realize that parenting is similar to golf. Well, at least golf for those of us who are less than stellar at it. You hit bad shot after bad shot after bad shot. And just when you are ready to give it up, you hit this beautiful arcing shot that lands two feet from the pin. Just that one perfect shot is enough to keep you pushing through the bad shots. You know it's in there, that it's possible so you keep trying.
It's the same with discipline. I try to stay on top of them for disobedience, poor attitudes, and mean behavior. I try to teach them to serve others and to be responsible. And most of the time it seems like it goes in one ear and out the other. But then there are those moments...the apology that wasn't coaxed out of them, the unasked for completion of a chore, the unsolicited "I love you". Those moments keep me going. Although I hope that my parenting shows more improvement than my golf game.


photo by Espen Lodden  http://www.flickr.com/photos/espenlodden/281287175/